BAJA
Baja SAE ® consists of competitions that simulate realworld engineering design projects and their related challenges . Engineering students are tasked to design and build an off-road vehicle that will survive the severe punishment of rough terrain .
Student Michael Bock pulled data from the Baja car during the Spring 2019 Baja Season after a test run by Andrew Touzinsky . “ We had developed the linear potentiometers earlier that year to measure shock displacement ,” said Bock . “ That day , we had finished up some electrical stuff and bookkeeping in the code before we left to see if the potentiometers worked on the track .”
BOLT
The BOLT Team is comprised of mechanical engineering , electrical engineering , and computer engineering students who take an existing motorcycle frame and suspension and design and build a completely electric powertrain inside . The existing gas tank and engine is removed and replaced with lithium polymer batteries , and a power-dense motor controller , and a powerful electric motor . The team ’ s newest prototype , BOLT IV , is based on a Yamaha YZF-R1M chassis . The team competes in multiple national competitions earning top places in their category and overall .
VIRGINIA TECH MECHANICAL ENGINEERING ANNUAL REPORT • 2019-2020 • EDUCATION 19